Generosity marks area giving programs

Thinking of another -- or knowing someone is thinking of you -- is the gift of the holiday season, and based on the support that area Christmas giving programs have received this year, the extended community is filled with open minds and open hearts. Despite economic turbulence, organizations in communities around the region have successfully brought the spirit of Christmas to families and children in need regardless of circumstance.
Some programs are even reporting record years, both in the number of families assisted and donations received. With more financial uncertainty on the horizon, the need for ongoing community generosity and volunteerism will doubtless continue -- but for the Christmas season at least, thousands of families have received extra food or a surprise gift under the tree.

Help from the Labor of Love
In Eastport, the Labor of Love Food Pantry continued on with their tradition of assisting area families with Christmas dinner. In the past, the pantry distributed all of the makings for a Christmas meal, but with COVID-19 concerns and the aging of the volunteers, the pantry opted to offer grocery gift cards to those in need.
"It's perhaps a little less personal and concrete to do it this way," says the Rev. Lynn Rutledge, "but this method gives people the opportunity to make their own choices." Rutledge, president of Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association, estimates that 225 households received the gift cards this year.
Those who received the gift cards were both food pantry clients who registered for the Christmas dinner assistance and people who needed a little extra help for the holiday season. The organizing churches each participated in the referral list. Fundraising for the Labor of Love's holiday efforts begins with the Turkey-a-thon in October and continues through November and December.

Silent Santa shares warmth and cheer
Children in the extended Eastport area are assisted by the Silent Santa program, which aims to provide a special gift of warm clothing and a toy to those in need. Donations from individuals and organizations fuel the program, which typically provides gifts for around 125 children each year.
While the Silent Santa program achieves wonders each year, it is coordinated by a small group of volunteers. This year's program got off to a late start due to illnesses, causing fundraising to fall behind schedule. Combined with higher demand than previous years, the program was still working to fill the tags of requested gifts as of December 20, according to Allicia Mitchell.
If you would like to help the Silent Santa program avoid a shortfall next year, donations can be sent year-round to: Silent Santa Program, Bangor Savings Bank, 54 Washington Street, Eastport, Maine 04631.

Toys & Treasures and the gift of giving
In Lubec, Toys & Treasures brought a bright holiday shine to the community with more area residents receiving gifts this year than last year. The project was founded 13 years ago after Sonja Kinney and her daughter, Cassie, volunteered at a homeless shelter and came away agreeing that they wanted to do more for those who had less.
The Kinneys created the Toys & Treasures program, which encourages residents in Lubec, Whiting, Trescott and Campobello to call and leave ideas for what they would like to give their loved one. Sonja and Cassie then look through their stock of gifts for a match and see what they can do. "Our motto is, 'You try your best to keep heat in your homes and food in your fridge, and we'll try our best to put a gift under the tree of your loved ones,'" Sonja shares.
Every year, Toys & Treasures funds its efforts through 50/50 raffles and the generosity of community members. Over the past two years, the program has been financially blessed enough to be able to fill gift socks and deliver them to two housing developments in Lubec, brightening the Christmas of all involved.
While figures for this year aren't yet available, Sonja says that the number of recipients of gifts through the Toys & Treasures program "exceeded last year's."

A safety net in Deer Island
Deer Island is graced with a food bank that provides residents in need with vouchers to be able to purchase or add to their Christmas meal. The food bank and its seasonal holiday efforts are coordinated by "many volunteers," shares Debbie Brawn-Mitchell, and this year "people have been very generous in their giving."
The effort to share resources with those less fortunate is very much an island-wide one. Students at Deer Island Community School held a food drive earlier in the month to raise awareness and donations for residents who would benefit from something extra, an activity that was much appreciated by food bank staff.
Throughout the year, the island's food bank has between 7-10 families in its client list. Donations and volunteers are always welcome.

Santa's Helper's legacy of caring
One of the longest running Christmas assistance programs in the state, the Calais Lions Club's Santa's Helper program, just completed its 50th year of operation. This year's push saw the club raising $17,250 for 87 families with 172 children in Washington County in the form of $50 food vouchers and one $75 gift voucher per child.
According to Lion Matt Lacasse, over the past three years the Lions have experienced more than 20% growth in their fundraising, all of which goes to local families in the form of vouchers that are hand delivered to local families. The enduring efforts of the Lions with Santa's Helper earned the program recognition in the State House earlier this year with a legislative sentiment delivered by Senator Marianne Moore.
"The Lions Club would like to thank all people and entities who gave to the program this year, as well as those who supported the telethon, bought raffle tickets, a hot dog, or otherwise lent their time, business and resources to further the program," Lacasse says. "It is truly a community effort."

Christmas boxes for Grand Mananers
On Grand Manan, the island's Action Ministries heads the effort to provide Christmas boxes laden with canned and dry goods for a feast and a toy to every child in need. This year's efforts have gone very well, reports Susian Lambert, with the number of boxes going out holding steady and the number of gifts going out to children increasing. Donations have been sufficient to meet the needs of the community this year, though Lambert acknowledges that will likely be changing as the economy gets tighter. "We have more people coming to the food bank than we did before. But we're good. So far, so good."
Fortunately, the food bank is blessed with numerous hands to help keep the operation going. "I couldn't tell you how many volunteers we have. There are so many," Lambert says. "Every year we seem to have more."

Giving Tree sees biggest year ever
In Machias, the Community Christmas Giving Tree saw its biggest year of donations and gifts ever, with 658 area Christmases improved as a result of the organization's efforts.
The Community Christmas Giving Tree raises funds from area donors such as Walls TV and Appliances, Pleasant River Fish and Game Conservation Association and many others to purchase books, gifts and warm clothes for local families. At the Rose M. Gaffney School, local students in Mrs. Rolfe-Taylor's and Mrs. Raye's kindergarten classes donate items to the Giving Tree instead of buying gifts for each other. Pineo's True Value, meanwhile, donated 24 boots for the very meaningful cause of keeping growing feet warm.
"This support for our efforts makes it all possible -- all of our funding is by donation," shares organizer Betty Jean Wilcox. "It is so gratifying and heartwarming what we have accomplished together!"

Christmas for Kids spreads holiday magic
Also assisting the families of the extended Machias area is the Downeast Community Partners' (DCP) Christmas for Kids program. Through this program, donations of toys and referrals of children in need are taken right up through Christmas Eve, shares Sharon Catus, development director for DCP, with more than 600 children provided with gifts as of December 15.
The Christmas for Kids program has received donations of finances or toys from more than 20 organizations and individuals in the area this year, and volunteers have contributed more than 200 hours to help it run smoothly. "We are so appreciative of all those who have stepped up to help ensure that every family can provide a bit of holiday magic for their children," Catus says. "We are hoping for even more participation from businesses and civic organizations in the future."